Increase COVID-19 testing in villages : Balbir Sidhu instructs Civil Surgeons

Chandigarh : To keep tab on Private clinics and RMPs those were treating the symptomatic COVID-19 patients, the Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu today held a virtual meeting with Civil Surgeons.While presiding over the meeting, the Health Minister instructed that to prevent the spread of coronavirus in rural areas there is still need to increase the testing as people are reluctant to get them tested. He said that this anti COVID-19 appropriate behavior has proved fatal for the high risk populations. The Minister said that if an infected person gets himself tested at early stage all treatment is to be made in home isolation. He asked the Civil Surgeons to convene meetings with the private clinics and RMPs to ensure the COVID testing of symptomatic persons. He said that Civil Surgeons maintain the sufficient stock of Corona Fateh Kits and there should be no backlog of corona kits at their respective districts. He said that every patient who kept under the HI, must be consulted on a daily basis as per protocol. At present 48,529 patients are kept under the HI and District teams to assure the delivery of kits to them.Food kits will also be distributed to such patients by taking from the Food & Civil Supply department he said adding that till date 7,000 food kits have been provided to the patients.

Responding to the Health Minister regarding availability of medicines in Govt. Covid Care Hospitals, the Civil Surgeons said that they have adequate stock of medicines such as Inj. Remdesivir and Inj. Dexamethasone etc. The Civil Surgeons informed that they also got the positive results after conducting the physical audit of oxygen use in COVID hospitals which reduced the unnecessary wastage and also proved helpful to control the demand. Referring to the SOPs for cremation of COVID-19 deaths, Mr. Sidhu said that it is our primary responsibility that all cremations be conducted under the supervision of our teams. He said that persons who perform the cremation rituals must wear the PPE kits for their protection and the dead body must be kept under the cover provided by the Health department.The Minister informed the meeting that order for procurement of 30 lac doses of Covishield placed with SII on 26th April and as per response from SII, vaccine availability shall be known in 4 weeks. He said that due to non-availability of vaccine, Phase IIII of vaccination of 18-44 age groups cannot be started. He said that order for procurement of 3, 29,830 doses of Covishield was placed, likely to be received shortly.Pointing out the surging cases, the Minister further asked to increase the L2 and L3 beds in COVID Care hospitals with the help of District Administration.  Civil Surgeons were directed to coordinate any shortcoming with the Director Health Services so as to ensure the timely and immediate treatment of affected patients.